Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/154

 148 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Along the eastern edge of this field the Sixth corps was posted in line of battle, while the remainder of the "Army of the Potomac" was passing to the right along the road from Germania Ford, imme- diately in rear of this line, posted to cover the movement. By this, it will be seen that Ewell's corps and the Sixth Federal corps were both in the Wilderness, and only separated by a few hundred yards. Those who remember the grand old commander will not doubt for a moment what such proximity meant.

Steuart's brigade was in column on the pike a very few minutes after the firing began, at lo}^ A. M., and marched promptly in the direction of the fire ; a very short distance had been marched when the fire became severe, and some of Jones's men, known to be in the front, began passing to the rear.

Line of battle was immediately formed in the following order : The Third North Carolina to the right, the First North Carolina across, and the Virginia regiments to the left of the pike. Advancing in this order of battle, when about three hundred yards had been passed over, the right came in contact with Jones's and Battle's bri- gades, the former in great confusion, its gallant commander being killed, the men streaming to the rear, and carrying many men of Battle's left with them.

It was now ii^ A. M. Battle having succeeded in rallying his men on Steuart's right, the line resumed the advance, and struck a stout line of Federal infantry in a thicket of pines, skirting the mar- gin of the small opening — once a field. This line being assaulted, fled precipitately, all escaping except the One-hundred and Forty- sixth New York — its commander. Colonel Jenkins, Elmira, New York, being killed — which surrendered in a body, and was sent to the rear, all except its color-guard and colors, which was too fleet to be overtaken.

The right of Steuart, debouching suddenly into this field — the left still in the biUsh — discovered two Howitzers, in the act of being taken off, which were quickly captured, together with the Lieu- tenant commanding the section. This section of a battery was on the near side of the deep 'and wide washout — as described — while, three hundred yards from the far side, was a strong line of the enemy that could not be moved. The attempt was twice made, but failed, and in the failure about fifty men of the two North Carolina regiments remained in the washout, and did good service later in the day as sharpshooters.

Several attempts were made to bring off the guns by hand — the